Signing of the 6th Protocol to extend the APTTA Agreement for six months
July 9, 2021
The protocol for the six-month extension of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) was signed in an online meeting between Mr. Nisar Ahmad Ghoryani, Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood Advisor to Prime Minister of Pakistan for Commerce and Investment.
Mr. Nisar Ahmad Ghoryani, Minister of Industry and Commerce said, the work on the new APTTA agreement is currently underway by the technical teams of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Pakistan governments, and 95 percent of the work has been completed so far.
With the signing of the new APTTA, the minister added that we will see positive developments in the realization and promotion of trade-transit relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Mr. Ghoryani, MoIC Minister also invited the Senior Economic and Investment Advisor to the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Kabul to resolve the remaining issues of the APTTA agreement.
On the other hand, Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood, Adviser to Prime Minister of Pakistan for Commerce and Investment said, the finalization of the APTTA agreement process is in favor of trade and transit between Afghanistan-Pakistan and the Central Asia and South Asia countries.
Mr. Dawood also added, next month, he will come to Kabul to resolve the remaining disputes over the APTTA.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mansour Ahmad Khan, Ambassador of the Republic of Pakistan in Kabul, said his country has major regional projects with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The adjustment of APTTA and its finalization is in the interest of both countries' economies.
The six-month extension of the APTTA agreement has been signed between the two countries to avoid legal gaps and transit-trade challenges.
The six-month extension of the APTTA agreement under the 6th Protocol approved on June 28, 2021, has been approved by the Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
The extension of the six-month protocol of the APTTA with the approval of the Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan between Mr. Ghoryani, MoIC Minister, and Mr. Razzaq Dawood, Senior Economic and Investment Advisor to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock and the Legal Unit of the Presidency and Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Islamabad signed online.
Ministry of Industry and Commerce, to receive the views and suggestions of the private sector and include them in the amendment of the new APTTA; Has held consultative meetings with private sector representatives in Kandahar, Herat, Nangarhar, Khost, Balkh, Kunduz, and Kabul provinces.
